Significant Changes to Small Claims in British Columbia

Changes are coming to the forums in which many civil disputes in British Columbia are heard. These changes primarily impact claims falling within the following monetary ranges:

$0-$5,000

$5,000-$10,000

$25,000-$35,000

Effective June 1, 2017:

The monetary jurisdiction of the Provincial Court of British Columbia (Small Claims) will be increased to $35,000 for civil matters, from the previous maximum of $25,000. A plaintiff must waive their claim for any additional amount beyond this maximum in order to bring a Small Claims action.

The Simplified Trial Process, which is currently available at the Robson Square (Vancouver) and Richmond courthouses for Small Claims matters up to $5,000, will be available at those locations for claims up to $10,000.

The “Civil Resolution Tribunal” will have jurisdiction over, and be the mandatory forum for, most claims up to $5,000. The Civil Resolution Tribunal is unique in that it is an online tribunal, which does not require “in person” hearings. Instead, mediations and adjudications are conducted over the internet, or by phone.

If you have any questions about this topic or any other topics relating to workplace law, please do not hesitate to contact a Mathews Dinsdale lawyer.

For more information on new developments in Workplace Law, please refer to recent editions of In a Flash